Kasetsart J. (Nat. Sci.) 48 : 587 - 597 (2014) Effect of Host Age on Progeny Production of Theocolax elegans (Westwood) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) Reared on Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Bonginkhosi E. Dlamini* and Weerawan Amornsak ABSTRACT Five host ages of Maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) reared on brown rice were examined for progeny production of Theocolax elegans (Westwood). Brown rice kernels infested with S. zeamais were exposed to a mated female of T. elegans after 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21 d following S. zeamais introduction. Host stages were determined by measuring head-capsule widths from all the host ages. There was a signifi cant difference (P < 0.05) in T. elegans progeny production among the different host ages. Total progeny, total female progeny and total male progeny produced by 19-day-old S. zeamais larvae were signifi cantly higher (P < 0.05) compared to the other host ages. Progeny of T. elegans raised on 19-day-old S. zeamais larvae had a higher female to male ratio compared to the other host ages. Sitophilus zeamais larvae after 13, 15–17 and 19–21 d were found to be second, third and fourth instars, respectively. It was concluded that T. elegans can develop on the second, third and fourth instar larvae of S. zeamais. However, 19-day-old (fourth instar) S. zeamais larvae produced more T. elegans progeny with a higher female to male ratio. Keywords: Sitophilus zeamais, Theocolax elegans, host ages, progeny production, parasitoid INTRODUCTION have adverse effects on consumers and long-term residual effect on the environment (Phillips, 1997; Rice and maize are important food Charlet et al., 2002; Flinn and Hagstrum, 2002; crops of many countries of the world and are Bale et al., 2007), while biological control agents grown for grain which is stored because it cannot have no adverse effects on consumers or the be distributed or consumed immediately (Flinn environment (Flinn, 1998; Tefera et al., 2010). and Hagstrum, 2002; Asl et al., 2009). Storage Maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais insect pests feed on harvested grain resulting in (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an economic losses due to spoilage and grain loss important insect pest of stored maize and rice in and this results in high expenses for chemical tropical and subtropical regions (Campbell et al., treatment and sanitation (Jackai and Adalla, 1997; 1989; Tefera et al., 2010). High infestations of Tefera et al., 2010). Effective pest management S. zeamais were observed in rice stored without and environmentally friendly approaches must controlling the moisture content and with no be applied to prevent grain loss and spoilage chemical protectants (Tefera et al., 2010). The (Campbell, 2002; Tefera et al., 2010). Chemicals fi rst infestation is initiated in the fi eld and the Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand. * Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected] Received date : 25/04/14 Accepted date : 01/07/14 588 Kasetsart J. (Nat. Sci.) 48(4) weevil develops while grain is in storage (Flinn experiment was established as a randomized and Hagstrum, 2002). Infestation occurs when complete block design and treatments were the moisture content is moderate to high and replicated 25 times. Weevils were mass-reared conducive for S. zeamais to feed and lay eggs on on brown rice (Oryza sativa L.) at 27 ± 1°C with cereals (Campbell et al., 1989; Campbell, 2002). a relative humidity of 65 ± 5% and a photoperiod Parasitoids are used successfully throughout the of 12:12 h (light:darkness). Maize weevils were world as biological control agents of many storage cultured every 2 wk by allowing 50 unsexed adults insect pests (Ryan et al., 1993; Schöller et al., of the weevils to lay eggs on 100 g brown rice. 1997). The brown rice used in the experiment had been Parasitoids are biological control agents frozen at -20 ± 2°C for at least 3 wk to eliminate that feed on or in the tissue of other insects contaminates (Tefera et al., 2010). The adult (hosts) and kill their hosts (Charlet et al., 2002). weevils were removed from the brown rice after 24 Only immature stages of parasitoids are parasitic hr. The optimum grain moisture content for storage while adults are free-living, feeding on nectar and insects is 13–14% (Haines, 1991). The optimum honeydew (Flint and Dreistadt, 1998; Bellows moisture content was attained by measuring the and Fisher, 1999). Parasitoids can parasitize eggs, moisture content using a moisture meter and larvae, nymphs, pupae and cocoons (Charlet et al., drying the grain when the moisture content was 2002; Wang et al., 2003). In 19 species of storage too high (Tefera et al., 2010). Theocolax elegans insect pests attacked by 13 species of parasitoids, was sourced from a 3-month-old culture of the 163 of 212 estimates of insect pest mortality parasitoid mass-reared at the NBCRC laboratory, ranged from 70% to 100%, while in 87 of the Kasetsart University, Thailand. Theocolax elegans estimates, insect pest mortality ranged from 90% was mass-reared weekly on fourth-instar larvae to 100% (Hagstrum and Subramanyam, 2006). of S. zeamais at 30°C in the same laboratory. A Thus, the use of natural enemies in controlling 24-hour-old female of T. elegans was exposed to storage insect pests can be effective and successful honey and a male for 24 hr. The T. elegans couple (Flint and Dreistadt, 1998; Burks et al., 1999). was released into 100 g of brown rice infested with Theocolax elegans has been used fourth-instar larvae of S. zeamais. successfully to control some storage insect pests (Herdman, 1921). Sharifi (1972) reported that T. Effect of host age on progeny production of elegans females parasitized pupae and fourth-instar Theocolax elegans larvae of S. zeamais but that study did not compare One hundred and twenty-fi ve glass jars, the impact of different host ages of S. zeamais on 5.5 × 15 cm, (one per treatment) each containing the progeny production of T. elegans. The current 100 g of brown rice with an initial moisture content study characterized the effect of different host ages of 14% were infested with 50 unsexed adults of of S. zeamais to produce progeny of T. elegans. S. zeamais per treatment. The unsexed adults of S. zeamais were aged less than 1 mth. Sitophilus MATERIALS AND METHODS zeamais oviposit eggs that give a 1:1 progeny sex ratio so the uncontrolled sex ratio did not affect Insects and grain progeny production in each treatment (Campbell Maize weevils were obtained from et al., 1989). After 24 hr, all adult weevils from a 3-month-old stock culture maintained at the the different treatments were removed using a National Biological Control Research Centre camel-hair brush. Sitophilus zeamais eggs were (NBCRC), Kasetsart University, Thailand. The not destroyed when removing the adult weevils Kasetsart J. (Nat. Sci.) 48(4) 589 because eggs are oviposited in a slender hole which and 21 d following oviposition, fi ve infested brown is covered by a gelatinous secretion that protects rice kernels were randomly selected and dissected and conceals the site of oviposition (Campbell et to obtain S. zeamais larvae. Head capsules of the al., 1989). Samples of 100 infested brown rice larvae were measured using a calibrated compound kernels were selected from each treatment and microscope (Olympus BH-2 BHS Research placed in glass jars, 4 × 6.5 cm and covered with Microscope; Olympus Corp.; Shinjuku, Tokyo, a fi lter paper for ventilation. Japan) and by taking pictures of a dorsal aspect Theocolax elegans females and males of the larvae head capsules. The greatest capsule used in the experiment were aged 48 hr. The wasps widths from the pictures were used. The head- were aged by isolating parasitized hosts into vials capsule width of S. zeamais at each host age was and inspecting daily for emerged T. elagans. After the average of fi ve head-capsule widths obtained emergence, the 24-hour-old T. elagans females after measuring fi ve S. zeamais larvae at 13, 15, were exposed to honey and males for 24 hr before 17, 19 and 21 d following oviposition. the experiment. The 100 infested brown rice kernels per treatment per jar were exposed to a Sanitation mated female of T. elegans after 13, 15, 17, 19 and Good sanitation measures are important 21 d following S. zeamais introduction. The 100 to prevent contamination of insect colonies by infested brown rice kernels provided 100 hosts per other insect species. A mature colony of T. elegans treatment per jar. The Theocolax elagans females and S. zeamais was used to start a new colony used were removed from each treatment after (Tefera et al., 2010). The old colony was removed 24 hr. Only one mated female of T. elegans was from the rearing area because it was a source of used per treatment per jar to minimize continuous contamination. The old colony was cold-treated mating of females with males and to reduce the (frozen at -20 ± 2°C) for 1 hr to ensure that all impact of other females on the sex ratio of T. insects were killed. A plastic bag was used to elegans progeny. contain the old colony and prevent live insects The life cycle of T. elegans is about 22 d from escaping. The work area was kept free of at 27°C (Sharifi , 1972; Ahmed and Khatun, 1993). spilled grain because grain can be a source of Twenty days following the release of T. elegans, unwanted insect populations that can infest the the numbers of males and females of T. elegans stock colony (Tefera et al., 2010).